Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22977, Stephen Dudley, N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. 26
Hudley, Stephen Polly or Molly
W22977
CONTENTS

3596
New Hampshire Pats
Bolly Dudley
widow of Stephen
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the day of Febry 1849 and sent to
Wm A. Fick Hoff
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 69 Vol. 1
Nehemiah Eastman
Febry 8 1834
Reported
Jan'y 1/49

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
STRAFFORD SS.—On this eighteenth day of August 1838 personally appeared before me  Ezekiel Hurd one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas Polly Dudley a resident of Alton in the County of Strafford, aged seventy six years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of Stephen Dudley who was a Soldier in the New Hampshire Continental line he enlisted in Capt. Aaron Dinsmore's Company, in Col. John Stark's Regiment in year seventeen hundred & seventy five for eight months, and was in the battle at Bunker Hill , & in 1776 he enlisted in Capt. Joseph Badger's Company, Col. Wentworth's Regt. for six months and was stationed at Concord he afterwards enlisted & I know not where when he served the last time but I think he was at West Point and the forfeits  She further declares that she was married to the said Stephen Dudley — on the tenth day of January in the year seventeen hundred and eighty two — that her husband, the aforesaid Stephen Dudley died on the twenty fourth day of Sept. 1826 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz : at the time above stated.
Witnesses
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before
Polly Dudley
Ezekiel Hurd Nelson Gosswell
Ezekiel Hurd mark Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
I hereby certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court.
Ezekiel Hurd judge of the Court of Common Pleas

I Samuel Dudley of Alton in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged forty three depose and say that I lived with the within named Stephen Dudley at the time of his death and he died within stated he being my father and I have since lived with my Mother Polly Dudley within named and she has never intermarried since his death But is still his Widow all as within stated Sept 15 th 1838 Samuel Dudley
State of New Hampshire Strafford ss Sept 15 th 1838
Then personally appeared the above named Samuel Dudley and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is just and true. Before Me Pearson Coyswell Justice of the Peace & Queen's throughout said State.
I the subscriber the justice aforesaid do hereby Certify that I am personally well acquainted with the said Samuel Dudley and he is a credible Witness — Pearson Coyswell Justice
2537 Polly Dudley Deduction Alton
Strafford County ss. State of New Hampshire I Francis Cogswell Clerk of the Court of Sessions Pleas for said County hereby certify that Francis Hurd, is a judge of said Court and that I believe the within signatures purporting to be genuine. — I also certify that Pearson Cogswell are as above & believe the above to be his true signatures. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of said Court this tenth day of October A.D. 1838. Attest Francis Cogswell, Clerk.

Farmington N.H. Feb. 2 d 1854
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
An old friend of mine called on me yesterday with a letter from a Mr. Knight of Washington City calling himself a claimants agent for claims on the U. S. Government &c.
This letter represents that there was a large sum due to the heirs of Polly Dudley , who was a Revolutionary pensioner, but died some years ago.
The facts in the case are that Polly Dudley as the widow of Stephen Dudley was placed on the Pension List of the Revolutionaries at $13.33 pr. an. as by the Certificate herewith enclosed will appear, which sum was, I think, regularly drawn up to Sep. 1 st A. D. 1850 - and that the Pensioner died 22 d Nov. in the same year. I have no record evidence of the time of the death, but the son, who is my employer, says that in the time as he thinks & has no doubt.
I did the business for the old Lady while she lived, and supposed it was all right, and know nothing to the contrary now, nor would it have been called up at this time had not the letter of Mr. Knight been read.
I cautioned my friend against sending money to Stronger, however, small the sum re

quia, for I supposed this, like thousands of other let- ters sent from Washington agents over the country, was designed merely and mostly to get small re- mittances from the credulous . I did not believe there had been any error. I did believe that the Pen- sioner had drawn in her lifetime all that she was by law entitled to, except what accrued between the 4 th Sep. 1850 and the day of her death, which sum was so small it would hardly pay for obtaining- and, therefore, no application has been made yet for it—
Mr. Dudley finally concluded for me to return this pension certificate, which I now do for the pur- pose of remaining on file unless it appears by the papers that there was a mistake in the sum granted the Pensioner and the facts and the law in the case would justify the old Lady's heirs in claiming back money. — in which latter case I suppose this pension certificate might be needed in making out a claim, and in that case ought to be return d . to me.
There is another case, now I am writing, that I will mention, too unimportant to take time by itself. It is this—Sarah Knowles was on the Pension list in this State as the widow of Samuel Knowles, who was a private in the Revolutionary war. This Pensioner died, I think, in the winter of 1852, leaving some arrearage of pension due, tho' but a small sum. The heirs did not apply for this arrearage to the pension office at Portsmouth

within the year from the time of her death, but dis- regarding the Rule, went on, made out the claim, the heirs giving a Power Atty. to a certain person by them employed to draw the money after the 4 th of Sep. last. The Attorney was then informed that the money could not be had this side of Washington, and so the papers remain— Now if there is no way to get at the money in this case, but to get a new power of attorney and have it run to some agent at Washington to draw the money, then, as the heirs are scattered and the sum to be drawn is very small, not exceeding, I believe, $20.00 they will give it up, but their wish and hope is that a receipt of the former attorney accompanying the papers including the Pension Certificate, sent to the proper department might bring the sum to which the applicants are entitled— If so, please inform us—
Respectfully yours
Nehemiah Eastman

The following is an Extract from the records of the town of Gilmanton, in the County of Strafford & State of New Hampshire —
"Stephen Dudley Junr & Molly Gilman both of Gilmanton were joined together in Marriage by the Revd Isaac Smith January the tenth, in the year one thousand seven hundreds and eighty two -"
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows, January 10 th 1782
Josiah Parsons Town Clerk of Gilmanton
I Josiah Parsons above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk in the town of Gilmanton County of Strafford & State of New Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town of Gilmanton with the exception above named as certified by me
Josiah Parsons Town Clerk of Gilmanton
State of New Hampshire Strafford ss. — Octo 6 th 1830
Personally appearing Josiah Parsons above named made solemn affirmation that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true —
Before Me. Peasey Coyswell Jus Penn of the Leviorum throughout said State

State of New Hampshire
Shofford County ss.
I Francis Cogswell Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for said County hereby certify that Pearson Cogswell Esquire is a Justice of the Peace as is stated on the annexed affidavits and that I believe the signatures to the same purporting to be his are genuine —
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my name and affixed the Seal of said Court this 10th day of October AD 1838 —
Attest F Cogswell, Clerk

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 22,977
Polly Dudley Wid. of Stephen Dudley Priv. Rev. War
Act: Feb 2 d 1848.
Index:—Vol. A , Page 201
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2849 N. Hampshire Portsmouth Polly Dudley
Rep?
widow of Stephen Dudley who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23. day of Nov. 1843 and sent to S. Eastman
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 1. Page 23.

4012 New Hampshire
let N. Eastman Esq. 31. 1843.
Polly Dudley
widow of Stephen Dudley dec.
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 1826 of Strafford in the State of N.H. who was a private in the Co. commanded by Captain Haysman of the 1 regt commanded by Col. Stark in the N.H. militia line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Aug 1839, I sent trans P. Cogs well Gilmanton N.H.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1839 $129.99 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 39 21.66
$151.65
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by J. M. Condy, Clerk, Book 7. Vol. 1. Page 38.

Stephen Dudley M 85 d 1826
1775 8. Runman State 1776 6x 60 Badger Bengal on roll Vol. 1
  all over  8     x 5 11  5.40    13  1.66     43.33  38.34  

1935 Polly Dudley-
$43:33 per am
N. Eastman Farmington N. H.
Eastman

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3 d March 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain widows, who have received pensions under the act of July 7. 1838
State of New Hampshire
Shafford County ss. On this third day of June 1843 personally appeared before the subscriber, one of the justices of the peace within and for said County of Shafford Polly Dudley a resident of Hton in the County of Belknap in said State aged Eighty- years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed, on the 3 d March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons, who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Stephen Dudley late of Hton aforesaid deceased, who was a private, and as understood a non commissioned officer in the army of the revolution that he was in a company raised in and about Gilmanston N. H. for the service in the vicinity of Boston, and was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, but who his Captain was she does not recollect, but she does recollect that Ebenezer Eastman of Gilmanston was a Lieutenant in said Company - She also recollects that the said Stephen went with another Company to Ticonderoga, and that Joseph Badger of Gilmanston was his Captain or some other officer over him in that campaign - That she was placed on the Pension List, Roll of the New Hampshire Agency under the act of July 7 th 1838 at the rate, according to the best of her recollection, of forty dollars a year - She further declares that she is still a
Widow - Witness J. Eastman H. Eastman
Polly her mark Dudley -

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year within written, before me
Nehemiah Eastman Jus. Peace
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Polly Dudley, the above named declarant and know her to be the identical person assumed as once the wife, and now the widow of the said Stephen Dudley as is by her above declared —
Nehemiah Eastman Jus. Peace
State of New Hampshire
Strafford county ss. Superior Court of Judicature,
I, John H. Smith, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature within and for said county, hereby certify that Nehemiah Eastman is a Justice of the Peace for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission is dated August 6 th 1838, and will expire August 8 th 1843, and that the signature above purporting to be his, is genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this sixth day of June A.D. 1843.
John H. Smith Clerk

For the son of Nathaniel in the County of Bedford and State of New Hampshire aged twenty-seven and a revolutionary pensioner of the United States depose and say that I enlisted into the revolutionary war in the year 1780 at Gilmanstown in said County in where and we marched to Kingston and saw Hale where we passed Muster by the Muster Master at Kingston by the name of Battle we were then placed under the Command of Major Parryman who Commanded our Company and Ensign Hovey who served as Lieut for the March to West Point and joined the Army and from thence to the place now called Jersey from thence to New York and camped at New York and built Huts for the Soldiers for their Winter quarters in. I was present and saw Major Parryman and I served in that town at the time of its fall and was honorably discharged. I have known Stephen Dudley of Gilmanstown affair and he enlisted at the same time I did and he marched with us as our Company upon our arrival after we passed Kingston at Kingston to West Point after our arrival at West Point the same Stephen Dudley was drafted out of our Company to go into the Light Infantry and I served in the same town for the term of six months we were in the same Regiment together Commanded by Col. Dyer the Officers of the Light Infantry which said Dudley served in I do not recollect their names. In being the same Stephen Dudley named in the Declaration.

of Polly Dudley on the 10 th day of August 1830 before Daniel Hurd one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Stratford in order to obtain her Pension under the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1830 entitled "An Act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows" —
New Hampshire October 5 th 1830
Jonathan Dow
State of New Hampshire Stratford ss October 5 th 1830 Then personally appeared the above named Jonathan Dow and made solemn Oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is just and true Before Me
Pearson Goysewell Justice of the Peace & Deorum throughout said State —
I the subscriber the Justice Officer do hereby Certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Jonathan Dow and he is a reputable & credible Witness —
Pearson Goysewell Jus Peace

V
2537
Polly Dudley Wid of Stephen NH
Ad July 7 1838
Married 1785
died 1826
Allow 13 mo L ii per
$43.33 per ann
On roll Capt Badger Col Wingate. NH
Militia
(ae apl 25 1839)
Poagsville
Gilmanton NH

I Jabez James of Gilford in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire Aged Seventy eight do hereby say that in the year 1776 that I entered as a private in the Revolutionary War in Capt Joseph Badger's Company Lieutenants Dinsmore & Wallingford and Ensign John Parsons that we Marched to Tioughneya and were there stationed at Mount Independence Called and served on that tour and Campaign for the term of six Months and I was well acquainted with Stephen Dudley then a Private in said Company who was in the same Mess with me a portion of the time And the said Stephen Dudley served with me in the said Company and Campaign for the term of said six Months he being the same Stephen Dudley named in the Declaration of Polly Dudley given before Daniel Hurd one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Strafford on the 18 th day of August 1838 his Widow in order to obtain her pension under the act of Congress of July 7 th 1838 "entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows" We were in Colo. Wingates Regiment - I afterwards was out to the Jerseys and to West Point with a drove of Cattle to the Army in the fall of 1780. and I there saw the said Stephen Dudley then a private in the revolutionary Army how long he served or the Company he belonged I do not know -
August 31 st 1838
Jabez James
State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss August 31 st 1838
The person appearing Jabez James and made Solemn Affirmation that the foregoing Affidavit by him subscribed is just and true
Before Me Peaseon Goss well Just Peace and of the Superior throughout State
I Peaseon Goss well the justice Affirmed do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the said Jabez James and he is a Credable Witness Peaseon Goss well Just

Jonathan Clough of Gilmanston in the County of Strafford and State of New Hamp- shire I aged seventy seven years depose and say that I was well acquainted with Stephen Dudley formerly of Gilmanston and also when he lived in Alton the Town adjoining and is the same Stephen Dudley named in the Declaration of Polly Dudley given by her on the 18 th day of August A D 1830 before Ezekiel Hurd one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Strafford and in the time of the revolution- ary war I enlisted with the said Stephen Dudley and others to go into the said war and we both went to Portsmouth on the Island and were stationed on Fort Hancock so called at that time we were in the Company we were in the Company commanded by a Capt Hayes of Dover and Ensign John Dudley of Gilmanston the name of the Lieut I have forgotten I then served One Month as a private and the said Stephen Dudley also served One Month with me in the same Company as a Sergeant the year and Month I do not now recollect Gilmanston August 24 th 1838
Jonathan Clough
State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss August 24 th 1838
Then Personally Appeared the above named Jonathan Clough and made solemn Oath that the foregoing Affidavit by him sub- scribed is just and true Before Me
Peaseon Coyswell for Pease and of the Quorum throughout said State -
I the said justice do hereby certify that the said Jonathan Clough is personally well known to me and he is a credible Witness -
Peaseon Coyswell for Pease

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 2 d February - 1848 entitled "an act making further provision for surviving widows and soldiers of the Revolution"
State of New Hampshire
Belknap County ss. On this 16 th day of September 1848 - personally appeared before the subscriber Nhemiah Eastman - a justice of the Peace throughout the said State of New Hampshire, Polly Dudley a resident of Alton in said County of Belknap aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2 d February 1848 granting pensions to widows of persons, who served during the Revolutionary war - that she is the widow of Stephen Dudley, who was a soldier in that war and served in that war, among other events, was in the battle of Bunker Hill -
and that she as the widow of said Stephen Dudley was placed on the Pension Roll under the act of Congress of June 17 th 1844 and received a pension to the annual amount of forty three dollars and thirty two cents -
She further declares that she is still a widow
Signed in presence of us - Nhemiah Eastman
Polly the Dudley - mark.
Stephen Dudley
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
Before me
Nhemiah Eastman Jus. Peace
And I hereby certify that the above named Polly Dudley - the Declarant - is personally known to me -
Nhemiah Eastman Jus. Peace

The State of New Hampshire County of Strafford ss. Court of Common Pleas Clerk's office.
I, John A. Smith, Clerk of said Court, hereby certify that Nehemiah Eastman is a Justice of the Peace throughout the said State of New Hampshire, duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission is dated June 20 th A.D. 1844 and will expire June 19 th A.D. 1849, and that the signatures within purporting to be his, are true and genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this eighteenth day of September A.D. 1848.
John A. Smith, Clerk

1938
June 12 '43
W.H.
Mar 3 rd 1843
C.S.
P. Dudley M. Peasey
E. H. Sumner
J. Fitzcough
H. Woodruff
Essex
Committee of Publication Farmington G. E.
Farmington W.H. June 9
FREE

Farmington N.H. June 8 th 1843.
J. L. Edwards Esq.
I send enclosed a few more applications for Pension Certificates, from which I hope to hear in due time —
Yours
Nehemiah Eastman

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Dudley, Thomas GRADE Private LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 5696 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 26, 1789 to Peleg Sanford
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.